Of course, you can. Watermelon is freezer-friendly. This article explains all you need to know about freezing watermelon. Read on for detailed step-by-step instructions.
1) How to Freeze Watermelon
When you want to freeze watermelon, make sure it is ripe and fresh. It is not really advisable to freeze the watermelon whole due to the space it will occupy in the freezer.
Thus, before freezing the watermelon, remove the rind and seeds. Watermelon seeds become very hard in the freezer and so, it’s much better to remove them from the fresh fruit rather than from the frozen one.
After that, conclude on the usage of the watermelon. This is essential because freezing alters the texture of the watermelon, making it have a more pureed consistency. Cutting watermelon into chunks or scooping it, using a melon baller will give you nice, evenly sized pieces.
However, if your plan is to make smoothies or sorbets, you can make them randomly sized. After cutting up your watermelon, arrange the pieces in a single layer on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and proceed to freeze for a couple of hours until solid. Once frozen, move the pieces to freezer bags for longer-term storage. Ensure to label your freezer bags, indicating the date. Watermelon can be kept frozen for up to 8 months.
Read also: Can you Freeze Beetroot?
How to Thaw and What to do with Watermelon
The most ideal and recommended way of thawing watermelon is in the refrigerator, although how you plan on using it matters as you may prefer to only defrost it partially or perhaps, not at all.
As watermelon thaws, it begins to have a more pureed consistency, a strong reason why previously frozen watermelon does not make good fruit salads. If you wish to snack on chunks, thaw your watermelon partially so it stays hard and firm.
Partially frozen watermelon is also palatable and suitable for frozen blender drinks, as well as treats and desserts. Other ways by which you can use frozen watermelon include:
Make use of frozen cubes and balls of watermelon as fruity ice in drinks. You can also freeze chunks of watermelon with some other fruits if your plan is to blend them together to make smoothies, or perhaps, have them combined with other fruits and fruit juices to make popsicles.
Another way by which you can use frozen watermelon is by making watermelon juice. Here, you just need to blend the chunks of the watermelon without its seeds in a blender.
After that, pour the juice in an airtight container, leaving about an inch of space at the top for expansion. The juice can stay fine in the freezer for about two months. It can be enjoyed like that without any additive or you can add some flavoring.
Read also: Can you Freeze Boiled Potatoes?
Conclusion
Watermelon can be frozen for up to 8 months and sometimes above that period. Freezing and thawing watermelon can cause a change in the texture. Thus, frozen and thawed watermelon is more palatable and works best only in prepared drinks and dishes. If you are craving watermelon when it is not in season, freezing previously bought or harvested watermelon won’t give you your desired taste.
